Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Chloe has moved

It's Wednesday at 12:20 p.m. Chloe moved this morning to general care from the ICU. She continues to do well. She got several lines removed before she left the ICU, so there are fewer wires and tubes coming and going from her. Her numbers still look good, and she impressed the nurses by walking to the bathroom. Her rash is coming back a little bit on her legs but doesn't seem to bother her. In fact, she is such a good patient, her nurse told the brand new nurse that is helping her not to get used to having patients like this; they are usually more uncooperative!

Getting an IV removed before she leaves ICU.

Sleeping peacefully in her new location on the general floor.

Sometimes we wonder why Chloe has to go through this. We know He has a purpose for her, but when she is suffering it is hard to see the point of it. But just in these past few days, God has already put people in our path whom we have been able to talk to, share stories with, and pray for. When Chloe is ready, we will tell her how God was able to use her during this surgery time to reflect His love, even while she was not awake. God placed a single mom in our path and parents whose daughter is the same age as Chloe and having her second surgery too. We are praying for their children. Watching Chloe go through this is giving us strength to do whatever work God has in store for us and Chloe.

This is wonderful, encouraging news! We'll continue to pray for the rash to go away, for her heart to beat exactly the way it's supposed to, and for rest and healing. She sounds like a wonderful patient! Way to go Chloe!

We will probably never know all the reasons why. However watching you all go through this certianly shows us how! You are a blessing to all of those who have prayed for you! We continue to pray and be blessed. CHloe I hope you feel better soon! I can't wait to see you againLove Aunt Lisa

What great news to hear. God is good! I wanted to pass on an encouraging paragraph that was in our Bible study this morning:

Not only are you royalty but you also have been placed in you sphere of influence, regardless of the size you perceive it to be, "for such a time as this." Ecclesiastes 3:2 tells us there is "a time to be born and a time to die." God cut out those exact perimeters for you and me on the kingdom calendar so that we would be positioned on earth right now. Likewise, Acts 17:26 tells us unflinchingly that God "determined the times set for [us] and the exact places that [we] should live." You see, even your current location is part of the set-up for your kingdom destiny. As we learned in one of our earliest verses on providence in this series, in Christ "we are also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works everything in conformity with the purpose of His will" (Eph 1:11). These realizations should be stunning and marvelous to us, exploding our lives with significance.

I wish, as do many others, that I could take Chloe's suffering away from her. BUT I am so glad that you are able to see the good things that God has worked out through this. I know that you have touched many people here. We are so proud of you Chloe!

So glad you are doing well Chloe! God has blessed you and your family through this. Recently I was feeling stressed. I was thinking about you and I realized that I had no reason to be stressed! You have touched my heart and many others' around you. God has very big plans for you! We are continuing to pray for you!

It may seem strange to Chloe or to you, but there are "strangers" praying in New Jersey for all of you. It's been a long time since I have seen a member of the Vander Laan family, but they still remain close to my heart and therefore I hold Chloe close to my heart also. Even my 8th graders at Eastern Christian Middle School are praying for God's hand to be close to all of you.

Jeff & Charity - I can tell you first hand that you will see some day why God has put you and especially Chloe you thru this, I really can. I know it's so hard to watch your daughter go thru the surgery, the pain, all the IV's, drains - but when I look at Chloe it's as though I'm looking at Laura - so calm, peaceful, cooperative, & strong. She will be used by God in ways that you can't even imagine yet. You are beginning to see it already but the best is yet to come. I've seen it with Laura & I know you will too!

Seeing how brave you are makes me want to be brave too. And listening to how brave your mom is and how much she loves Jesus and believes that He has a plan and a purpose for you and your beautiful heart, makes me want to be a braver mom too.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

We are sending prayers to you and your wonderful amazing heart valve!

Lisa-Jo (from Washington DC - with her two small sons, Jackson and Micah)